Random Thoughts!

Month: December 2016

The rise of any kingdom is much more easier than the stabilization and fall. The medical death of an animal might still have biologically living organs or tissues that can be harvested for transplant or research. Painfully popular Presidencies have been lost to the headiness of the candidates and the less openness of the advisory team executing the campaigns. I have seen two in recent times, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria and the Democrats in the United States.

In Nigeria, parties are along Power cabal lines than philosophical. So the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party was by the power brokers that needed a way to keep the Military from interference and solve the issue of the Chief Abiola, June 12 saga. So the ease of access by Rtd Gen. Obasanjo in 1999 had the least of resistance. The honey moon continued amidst the usual back stabbings and betrayals that is so eminent in Africa’s politics. President Obasanjo’s handing over to Yaradua was not without it’s internal bickering, but Obasanjo had the cabal retired Military either silent or on his side. Having ruled the nation for a long time their relevance is still yet to wane.

The death of Yaradua brought in Goodluck Jonathan, who seemed to always be a deputy that takes over from his Principal after some issue or the other. Whether it was by default or manipulated, time and maybe his memoirs might tell us. But that Zoology Professor, showed some un-readiness for the seat and rumours of his mistresses and wife being the Black Popes were not uncommon. Jonathan’s greatest error was not being in direct touch with the people on the ground. He was covered by the Aso realm that reality was taken far from his reach. That might remind you of Abacha and the Mallams syndrome. For example, a bomb explored in the North East with International Red Cross and USAID agencies reaching out to see how they can help, while the then President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria was watching a Command football performance, with serving Presidents from some African Countries and celebrities in another Southern state of Akwa Ibom. The only time Goodluck saw it fit to visit the North East was during the ending days of the campaign, another grievous mistake.

Goodluck had issues with a number of his people, party persons and he just wont bulge? Obasanjo had to make public some letters sent to the President, causing quiet some unease for all, especially those close to the two.

The selection of candidates to compete was not what any will call transparent as persons were not willing to face the wrath of the incumbent or be seen as not politically correct. So having Goodluck and Buhari, was not so different than the Abiola vs Tofa elections though tougher.

Jonathan, left the hands that fed him and raised his electoral machinery of person wanting a bite of the National cake. So the colossal funds raised, stolen and shared for campaigns only ended in peoples Farms, Toilet Soak a ways and water tanks, but not the electorates. Campaign projects, done to showcase a sense presence in communities, were only heard in the news and not realities on ground. Did Jonathan foresee his failing in the elections? No, because that was actually his very first true elections, others were mere give aways.

Could he have done it differently? Yes, the ending game he employed in the North East would have been employed a year earlier, before the heating up of the campaigns. He had a good followership in the Middle Belt, South South and South East. He would have done much better in the other regions like the North Central, North West, North East and South West. Though the elections was along party lines, but all knew that tribe, region and religion played their roles. He would have been wise to get a deputy that was accepted by the North and not one that was rumoured to be from the south south and unable to recite the Quran.

Nigeria has still not learnt it’s lessons, as the incumbent might be facing the same forces that brought him in, bring in another person to power come 2019, unless Nigerians start seeing a people oriented change. If you ask me, what Nigeria needs is not another mega – party, we need to start politics along Ideological divides, let us have issue driven political parties and not cabal -ization of power brokers.

Hilary Clinton, took the world by storm, when she came out for the Senate seat, she was everywhere and with everyone. From Abuja, we received her emails engaging the electorates with their concerns and her intentions to address those concerns. Her entre was glorious, but she made the mistake of not following up to develop her success for greater success.

Like Goodluck, Hillary had the good will of the incumbency to her favour, but what we did not see very glaring was the engagement of her Husband. If you will recall, Obama was almost doing the same mistake, not engaging Bill Clinton during his campaigns, till the very end when the race was very tough, it was reported that Bill Clinton was on the Phone for a very long time call the many he could. The report alone encouraged a lot of Bill Clinton sympathisers to vote Obama. During Elections you need every resource. We saw Bill Clinton sparingly and issues upon issues being raised were swept under the carpet. Issue like the Pro – Lifers; LGBT; Evangelicals; Unemployment issues and Immigrants; Militant Islamism and American Policies. These are issues that are so sensitive in America and should have been given a more careful treatment than was.

Why writing now? Gambia has moved to the Opposition, Ghana is on the verge of another Elections, what should we expect? It is my prayers that we will have a free and fair elections. While wishing the best person for Ghana to win, It is my hope also that such a person will address the issues of Unemployment and Corruption that we hear cries of in Ghana. This is an important economy that needs to be in the right for the benefit of the sub region and Africa as a whole. God bless the people of Africa with leaders that are Africans at heart. Happy elections Ghana.

A still small voice keeps telling me that vengeance is the Lord’s He will repay. The sincere heart pains, grief and emotional pangs caused the myriad of innocent persons round the world should be a cause of concern for action and not just words. But where do we start from? It is more annoying for so many lay persons like me, when you see the same persons steering the wheels of conflict in regions, sitting on well decorated round tables with tea, coffee and snacks arguing heartlessly, where as the people they have engineered against each other are in pools of blood if not already in mass graves. The sorry state of the gullible masses used, is the agitators will always have their families far away from the trouble’s spots and then come to use other peoples’ sons, daughters, mothers and fathers for a cause only the agitators are the true benefactors.

I stand to be corrected, the true culprits behind most genocides and crisis are always never called to book. Oscar Arias, once told my class that the manufacturers, merchants and users of weapons of violence should all be held accountable for the atrocities, because if the warring parties are not armed the likelihood that the violence will escalate beyond proportions is not there. True or false, is left for you to reason, but if you visit police station cells or prisons and see criminals worshipping God, you might end up more confused, as in, if these are the same persons convicted of their crimes. The the sponsors are surprisingly persons in very high societal palaces connected through several remote channels that even the best of conflict resolvers might be playing round their evil planned schemes. You may get me wrong, forgive me, the opinion is personal, but most of battles are fought with the real merchants of war, selling the wares to both sides. It is time to look at remote causes of crisis and see how nations can proactively halt or manage uneasy calm/peace transmuting to violence. May we never resort to violence, leaving the laws of Kama to be in effect.

We all have issues, with ourselves, siblings, parent, spouses, families, neighbourhood and colleagues, but violence / ill actions should be a never mentioned thing. In Nigeria, there is saying that, even the tongue and teeth, sometimes fight, but must stay and work together to survive. As the year comes to another close, may we see peace springing with the tides all around the world.

May families displaced, migrating, in Camps or Homes / Shelters, be able to at least feel the current of Christmas with Santa Claus bringing gifts and tides of Peace.

Senator Ben Bruce has become the Nigeria’s Common Sense Politician, good some are talking realities that seem to be appreciated by the common man, whose best economy is the stomach or pocket.

This is a small thought feeder for any serious thinker. Am sure you already know most of what one will state, let is then act as a reminder of the should have, for not just Nigeria, but for the most developing nations.

I will ask some questions and look for answers from any or all that have inclusions as our way forward.